Profile Evaluation: Mexican with GMAT670

[Tsmarket]

Hi,

I recently took the GMAT and got 670 (Q43, V39, AWA 6). I am from Monterrey, Mexico and am NOT a US Permanent Resident or Citizen. I did my undergraduate in Finance at McCombs in UT-Austin and finished with a 3.7 GPA.

Besides English, I speak Spanish and German, and intermediate Japanese. I studied abroad in Japan, Germany, and Denmark, and did my internship for Deutsche Bank (Marketing) in Frankfurt, Germany. After college, I did Technology Consulting at Deloitte in NYC for two years, did a summer of volunteer ESL Teaching in Ukraine and am now working for the largest Operations Consulting firm in Latinamerica (project in Panama).

I had great extracurriculars in college and have good ones for after-college.

Recommendation letters will be from a former employer from college (Director of International Programs), extracurriculars at Deloitte (form a current Director at AMEX), and my current supervisor (which should be very good).

With this in mind, I wanted to know what you think my chances are for:

NYU
UT-Austin
Harvard (MBA/MPP)
Stanford
Berkeley
Columbia
London Business School

I think my overall application is strong, EXCEPT for the Quant and Total scores on the GMAT. I have heard that Latin Americans tend to score lower on the GMAT, and I only know of 1 Mexican who scored above 700.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[mbamission]

Hi Tsmarket,

Thanks for writing in and sharing those details. You have some really interesting international exposure and work experience which should play well with in your applications. I do think being from Mexico gives you some leeway on your GMAT score, as scores from that region -- by reputation -- tend to be lower, but that doesn't give you an automatic "pass" on your GMAT either.

I would rate HBS and Stanford as reach, Columbia and Berkeley as near-reach, and the rest as competitive.

Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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[Tsmarket]

UPDATE: On December 2011 I re-took the GMAT and got the following score:

Total: 690 (88%)
Quant: 47 (76%)
Verbal: 38 (83%)
AWA: TBD

Additionally, I included IESE and Cambridge to my list of programs I am applying.

Can you please tell me how does this score affects my chances at all schools? Thanks! Happy New Year!

[rachel]

Hi! A higher score puts you in a more competitive position at the top schools.

Best of luck,
Rachel Beck
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)

Download mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide

Visit the mbaMission Blog

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